Gelatissimo, Moochi, WowCow, Yogurberry and Tutti Fruitti. These days frozen yoghurt, or froyo, as it is affectionately known, is trending upwards to be the new black. Frozen yoghurt parlours (aka dessert lounges) are fast popping up and are huge magnets for kids. They love the taste, feeling it’s not that different to regular ice-cream, while their health-conscious parents can keep a sweet tooth satisfied without overdoing the fat and kilojoules (calories). And with healthy-sounding flavours, such as green tea and pineapple or berry pomegranate kiss, they sound nutritious! But are they simply yoghurt that’s been frozen? Are they healthier for you than old-fashioned ice-cream or gelato? Let’s investigate further.

Fat, kilojoules and protein

For starters, frozen yoghurt is made from yoghurt; unlike ice-cream, which is made from milk, cream, sugar and flavours. This means that froyo consistently has less fat and kilojoules, but more protein than regular full-fat ice-cream. Depending on the brand, it can have anywhere from zero to three percent fat, which is one-third the fat of regular ice-cream, which contains from 10 to 12 percent fat.

For example, a typical 100 gram tub has 350 to 500 kilojoules, 3g fat and 6g protein. Contrast this with two scoops of regular ice cream which has 820kJ, 10g fat and 3g protein.

However frozen yoghurt is not as low in kilojoules as a water-based, sorbet-style gelato, ice-cream’s Italian cousin. Two scoops or 100g of lemon gelato only has 435kJ, zero fat and zero protein. That’s why I regard frozen yoghurt as halfway between a gelato and ice-cream. NOTE: This doesn’t apply to the milk-based gelato which is similar to regular ice-cream.

What about sugar?

So far, it sounds like good news, doesn’t it? Not so fast. While most frozen yoghurt is low in fat, the sugar content is comparable or similar to regular full fat ice-cream and gelato, averaging about 20 grams per serve.

This amount may well be tripled if you order a large portion and therein lies the real problem, especially in self-serve stores. The sugar is added into the ice cream and frozen yoghurt for flavour but offers little nutrition other than extra kilojoules – great if your kids are slim and physically active. Not good if you’re a family that tends to be overweight or you’re sedentary.

If there’s one thing that will derail your best nutrition intentions faster than frozen yoghurt can melt under a summer sun, it is the toppings and syrups. There’s nothing wrong with the basic frozen yoghurt but it can all be undone by what you have on top.

There are many kinds of toppings available, from nutritious choices like diced fresh fruits, nuts or dried berries to the not-so-healthy ones like crushed Tim Tams, choc-chip cookies, M&Ms, rainbow sprinkles and marshmallows. Not forgetting the flavoured and natural sauces like caramel, honey or fruit puree.

The common misconception is that it is okay to load up your cup with toppings since frozen yoghurt is already low in fat and kilojoules. Beware, as this may well end up equaling the kilojoules that you’d consume as a serve of regular fat ice-cream.

How about the health claims?

Marketers love hyping the health benefits of frozen yoghurt. You’ll see claims that it’s high in calcium and protein; as well as having probiotics (friendly bacteria) to aid digestion. They claim it can assist with weight loss and lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

Yes, there’s some calcium but nothing special. You’d get about the same as from any dairy-based dessert like custard or baked custard. Yes, there’s a little more protein than ice-cream but not as much as from milk, yoghurt or cheese. Yes, it’s low in GI but then so are all dairy foods. As to the probiotics, some frozen yoghurts do contain them, some don’t. The quantities are not huge.

Bottom line

Frozen yoghurt is a lighter, less-weight-inducing option than regular ice-cream if you’re comparing fat and kilojoules. If you’re healthy and active and it’s just a treat on a hot day, then enjoy it in moderation – say once a fortnight. Just remember that it has roughly twice the kilojoules of low-fat yoghurt so it is not entirely guiltless. And definitely resist the urge to go berserk with the extras on top.